Quick Answer: Websites see your approximate location from your IP address — usually accurate to the city level. Check what they see at What's My Location. To hide it, use a VPN. To block precise GPS location, deny the browser permission popup.
Check What Websites See
Visit What's My Location to see your approximate location based on your IP address. This is what every website sees when you visit — no permission needed.
How They Know
1. IP Address (Always Available)
Every internet connection has a public IP address. IP geolocation databases map IP ranges to physical locations.
| Accuracy | What they know |
|---|---|
| Country | ~99% accurate |
| State/Region | ~90% accurate |
| City | ~70-80% accurate |
| Exact address | Not possible from IP alone |
Your ISP assigns your IP. The IP is registered to a general area, not your house. Websites see your city, not your street.
2. Browser Geolocation API (Requires Permission)
When a website asks "Allow location access?" and you click Allow, it uses:
- GPS (mobile) — accurate to ~3 meters
- WiFi positioning — accurate to ~30 meters
- Cell tower triangulation — accurate to ~300 meters
This is how Google Maps, Uber, and weather apps know your exact location.
3. WiFi Network Name
If you allow location access, your device can use nearby WiFi network names to triangulate position. Google and Apple have databases mapping WiFi networks to physical locations.
How to Hide Your Location
Use a VPN
A VPN changes your IP address to the VPN server's IP. Websites see the server's location, not yours.
Without VPN: Website sees → Your city, your ISP
With VPN: Website sees → VPN server city, VPN providerCheck if your VPN is working: VPN Leak Test
Block Browser Location
Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Site Settings → Location → Don't allow sites to see your location
Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Permissions → Location → Block new requests
iPhone: Settings → Privacy → Location Services → Safari → Never
Android: Settings → Apps → Chrome → Permissions → Location → Deny
Use Private/Incognito Mode
Doesn't hide your IP but prevents websites from accessing cached location data.
What a VPN Hides vs What It Doesn't
| Without VPN | With VPN | |
|---|---|---|
| IP-based location | Your city | VPN server city |
| GPS location | Your exact location (if permitted) | Your exact location (VPN doesn't affect GPS) |
| ISP | Visible | Hidden |
| Browser fingerprint | Visible | Still visible |
A VPN hides your IP location but does not block GPS. If you grant location permission to a website while using a VPN, they still get your real GPS coordinates.
Related Tools
- What's My Location — see your IP-based location
- What's My IP — check your public IP
- VPN Leak Test — verify your VPN is hiding you
- IP Lookup — look up any IP's location